While browsing through Barnes and Noble yesterday, I picked up an $8.00 copy of “Reclaiming History”, Vincent Pugilosi’s ridiculously long book (over 1,600 pages) which attempts to refute conspiracy theories about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
So last night, while thumbing through that book and keeping an eye on the Olympics, I thought of a way to combine the fascinating worlds of sports and conspiracy theorization into one fun-filled article.
Below are some sports conspiracy theories I’ve heard from fellow fans over the past year or so, and my responses to them.
Some are downright ridiculous. Others might make you think a little bit.
Again, just to clarify, these aren’t my personal conspiracy theories. I don’t really believe in conspiracies.
And, this isn’t a “best of” list. If you know of any other interesting theories, then feel free to share them below.
Finally, this is not a journalistic article. Much of the evidence theorists use to defend these conspiracies are based on hearsay, rumor, or even downright lies. I’m just compiling people’s speculations into one article.
Anyway, let’s get on with it…
6 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ivahn Lachowsky 10 months ago
Fun article one of my first articles I wrote for the bleacher report was a conspiracy one check it out if you like it probably would fall under the grumpy fan's excuse for why his team lost haha
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William Berry 10 months ago
"Did Spygate help? Maybe. We can't say for sure.
But, all things considered, the Patriots needed to pull off a lot more than some friendly officials could have given them."
Yup, the Raiders, Steelers, Rams, Titans, Colts, Colts, Steelers never changed the signals they used in front of 30,000 people. No, you did not insult all the opposing coaches.
(Is the sarcasm obvious even to a fool?)
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Alan Bass 10 months ago
Wow amazing article. I disagree with all of them except for the last one. That sure as heck looks real to me!
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Eddie Rybarski 10 months ago
I'm surprised you know so many things which point to these scenarios being fixed, yet you are too close-minded to consider that the theories could be legitimate. You tell yourself "I don't believe in conspiracies" and dismiss these legitimate arguments because "more likely than not" the truth is what you want to believe. It's precisely the naive sports fan like you that these businesses capitalize on. Why was Roger Goodell's mission statement to "maintain the integrity of the NFL"? It's because their biggest consumer is the good old boy who wants to believe the NFL is just a bunch of guys playing a game in which "miracles" can happen and dreams can come true. You say that the Patriots overcame more than what the officials could have given them? Puh-lease, a call against a team in the 1st quarter is just as damaging as in the 4th quarter - it just doesn't look as obvious to the fan, because by then you're blaming the other team (as you did to Oakland). I could provide plenty more about the NFL and the Pats, but I'll try to keep this concise. Bill Belichick, Tiger Woods, David Stern and nearly all pro sportsmen play by the Mark Grace-ism "if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying." That's why governing of these operations is so important. They know everyone is going to try to fudge the system as much they can for their own benefit. The demand to win is so great, it is unfair for them NOT to gain any advantage they can (i.e. the significant number of MLB players on steroids). But if the cheating makes more money for the league (or, as they like to say, "betterment of the game") then they make sure it happens. There is always more at stake in these games than who wins or loses. They could care less about fair competition, all that really matters is fair compensation. Snap out of your childhood sports utopia and realize pro sports are about politics and money just like the rest of the business world.
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Eddie Rybarski 10 months ago
Here's another thought for the "Miracle on Ice" theory. It was a make-up decision for 1976's Olympic Basketball fiasco when the Soviets defeated the U.S. on a bunch of b.s. at the end of the game. There's no doubt that one was fixed for the U.S.S.R. And your biggest piece of evidence against the theory is irrelevant. When the fix is in, it comes from the top down. The players don't know of the fix and they still play their hearts out to win. It's the coaching strategy (not pulling the goalie) that determines the outcome. And you better believe the coach is following orders from higher up.
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Dustin Omar 7 months ago
Try www.thefixisin.net for some real sports conspiracy theories.
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